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Auditory
Channel - Disadvantages
There
are also disadvantages that must be taken into account when designing
auditory displays.
- Startle
Response - Sound can be so obtrusive that it interrupts
and disrupts task performance even to the extent of wiping out/erasing
immediate memory.
- Localization
Difficulties - While sound surrounds us, it can be difficult
to locate the source, depending upon the environment. Sound can
be absorbed or reflected by barriers and objects. For example,
when one is driving and enclosed in an automobile, it is difficult
to locate the direction of a police car or fire engine from the
sirens alone.
- Limited
Memory for Abstract Sounds - We
can discriminate thousands of different sounds; however, human
memory for abstract sounds, composed of pure tones, is very limited--typically
from 5 to 8. It is recommended that no more than 6 be used in
most circumstances.
- Sounds
Masked by Other Sounds - We have difficulty filtering
and separating sounds if one sound is "masked" by another
of the same or similar frequency. For instance, we may be able
to attend to and hear the sound of a flute in an orchestra, but
if more than one flute is playing we may not be able to determine
"which" flute is playing "what" note.
- Sound/Noise
Habituation - We
tend to become used to and not attend to continuous sound or noise
unless it pertinent to the task at hand. "Background"
music is a common example.
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